Friday, July 27, 2018

Wow. Justice prevailed - because there was video evidence against the cops. "Gomez told The New Orleans Advocate that officers asked him whether he was an American. "They kept telling me I wasn't an American citizen, that I was a fake American," Gomez told the Advocate. Shortly after the confrontation at South Murat and Baudin streets, Gomez was beaten a few blocks away from the bar. Court records obtained by the Advocate said Galman struck Gomez with "an opened hand and fist," and Sutton also struck Gomez. He was reportedly treated at a hospital, where he required stitches and was later released. During an interview with WWL-TV, Gomez's face was swollen, scratched and bruised. Sources told WWL-TV that the officers initially claimed that Gomez was the aggressor and that they were defending themselves, but witness accounts and surveillance video "clearly" showed their version of events was false, police said. "We took very decisive and strong action against them with the evidence that was brought to us," Police Superintendent Michael Harrison told WWL-TV. "What we learned and what I was briefed on and what we saw supported they were the aggressors, not only inside but outside and it continued to escalate." Harrison said in a statement obtained by the paper that New Orleans officers "are expected to comply with the law and adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct, whether on- or off-duty." Gomez said he wanted an apology from the two now-former officers, who appeared in court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor counts. They had no apparent injuries."